The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Kids go back in time to the Victorian era
History: Events mark bicentenary of monarch’ s birth
The 200th anniversary of Queen Victoria’s birth is being celebrated in a special way by two top children’s authors this week – including a sentimental visit to the Victorian Market in Inverness.
Queen Victoria was born at Kensington Palace in London on May 24, 1819, becoming the only daughter of Edward the Duke of Kent.
At the age of just 18, she became heir to the throne following the death of her uncle William IV in 1837 as he had no legitimate children who survived to take his place.
Writers Barbara Henderson and Lindsay Littleson – creators of children’s novels Punch and A Pattern of Secrets – will host the special event at the Victorian Market on Friday as groups from across the city are transported back in time.
The visit reflects the plot of Mrs Henderson’s novel Punch which focused on a huge fire which destroyed the Victorian Market Halls in 1889.
The story features an escaped prisoner, a dancing bear and a murder, as well as a cameo from Queen Victoria herself, while drawing on other real-life events and people.
Mrs Henderson said: “Punch features Inverness, Royal Deeside, Edinburgh and Perth locations.
“I am visiting them all while my fellow writer Lindsay Littleson is taking her book to the west.
“Both books are based on real events but there is plenty for the children to imagine. Apart from our two books, it’s hard to find Victorian Scotland in children’s literature.” among its
During the event, children will be given hands-on experience of a range of Victorian items.
They will also be treated to a reading, quizzes and improvised drama – all geared at celebrating everything from the Victorian era.
The event marks the first of its kind for the English and drama teacher in the Highlands prior to a series of visits including Balmoral, Inverness and Fort William.
These locations all featured in the writers’ latest novels.
In addition to school events, Mrs Henderson will mark the occasion with free Saturday family book sessions drawing on all things Victorian.
The first will take place on Saturday at Waterstones in Inverness between 2pm and 3pm before two sessions on June 8 at the Highland Bookshop in Fort William from 11am until noon and 1.30pm until 2.30pm. German tourists are trying to tempt the Loch Ness Monster out of hiding – with bags of sweets.
Trippers have been seen throwing chewy treats into the murky waters in the Scottish Highlands.
One tourist filmed herself on the shore offering the confectionery. Another said she had thrown Haribo Colorado-Gums into the water but “Nessie hasn’t appeared”.
The craze was sparked by a German TV advert from 2017 which showed a group of tourists tucking into a bowl of gums by the side of the loch.
Monster hunter Steve
“There is plenty for the children to imagine”
“Another mystery solved here at Loch Ness”
Feltham, 55, who has lived at the side of the loch in his converted camper van since 1991, said: “Another mystery solved here at Loch Ness.
“I’ve been wondering for a while why German tourists keep offering me Haribo sweets and laughing.”
This month marks the 86th anniversary of the first official sighting of the beast when a couple told the Inverness Chronicle they saw “an enormous animal rolling and plunging on the surface.”
Nessie hunters have flocked to the site ever since and even used a yellow submarine made out of fibre glass dubbed The Viperfish to hunt for the elusive beast in 1969.